Connecticut awards contract for criminal justice information system

Earlier this week, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy announced the signing of a contract between the state and Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (ACS) for the highly-anticipated criminal justice information system (CJIS). Connecticut’s CJIS Governing Board has been planning this project since 2008, when the project was approved by the state’s general assembly. Once in place, the system will provide access to comprehensive criminal history records to all state branches of government.

INPUT has tracked the Connecticut CJIS project from April 2008 through its recent implementation. The state started the project by hiring MTG Management as a consultant in 2009. Following the consulting effort, the state issued a request for information (RFI) in March 2009. Over the next year and a half, the project was stalled due to possible lack of funds. In mid-2010, several drafts of the CJIS solicitation were presented to the state legislature, and the RFP was issued in October 2010. With a price tag estimated at $25 million, many were invested in when, and if, the project would be awarded. As stated above, those fears were set aside when Governor Malloy announced the contract signing with ACS.

Last month, INPUT Senior Analyst Chris Cotner posted a blog detailing good news as it relates to public safety budgets in fiscal years 2010 through 2013. According to the analysis, over the next two years (FY 12 and FY 13), there is a strong likelihood that public safety and homeland security budgets will increase, which is great news to vendors. It is also good news to state and local governments that have tabled projects over the past few years due to lack of funding. While this market may not see the boom it once saw prior to the market collapse and subsequent recession, the good news is this market will begin to see more growth.